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245/45-17 VS 275/40-17 on 9" for Open Track

2K views 13 replies 7 participants last post by  The Blurr 
#1 ·
I am setting up a 2003 GT that will be for HPDE (only real street time it will see is to and from the track). I am looking at tires and in my search I see that there are some drivers that are using 275/40 on 9" rims for open track. I am curious about this. With the added section width, isn't there a substantial amount of side wall roll introduced?
The 245/45 section width is 9.65
The 275/40 section width is 10.83

That is a lot of cushion for the rim to roll on.

I will be running a 9" square set up.

Hopefully, one of you experienced open track guys can educate me a little.
 
#3 ·
How so?
For example, Nitto NT01
245/45ZR17 7.5 (8.0) 9.0
275/40ZR17 9.0 (9.5) 11.0

All this tells me is that they will fit. It does not tell me anything about how they will perform. My question is regarding the fact that you are mounting a tire with a very wide section width on the low end of the recommend rim size. I see that people are doing this for track applications. Doesn't the extra width over the side wall make the tire feel a little rollie pollie?

Like I said in my first post, maybe someone with experience can educate me on this.
 
#6 ·
Not to overcomplicate things but it does depend a little on the brand of tire or the actual width. A Hoosier is wider than most other tires so it probably doesn't make much sense to use a 275 Hoosier on a 9" rim.
I've heard several people at the track say they've tried 255 and 275's on a 9" rim and their times were nearly identical.
I race in a class where 255 is the max so I use a 9.5" rim and I'm pleased with the performance but that's just an opinion I know.
 
#7 ·
As a general rule, mounting any given size tire on rims at the narrow end of the range results in turn-in response that's slightly 'softer', and steering precision that isn't quite as good as with widths out toward the wide end of the rim width range. Some people will notice this more than others, and I'm sure that there are some who'd never notice it at all.

Not trying to spend too much of your money, but I do have to wonder why you'd start out picking wheels as narrow as 9" for a dedicated track toy where there are no class rules limiting this dimension like there is in autocrossing. Unless 17" tires are easier to find than 18's, why not something like 18x10's instead, which would take 275/35's (or possibly 285/35's) still keeping to about the same OD as the 245/45-17 OE tires but with less sidewall height and cornering flexibility?


Norm
 
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#9 ·
I do have to wonder why you'd start out picking wheels as narrow as 9" for a dedicated track toy where there are no class rules limiting this dimension like there is in autocrossing.
Good question! I bought two cars. One had been stuffed into a wall at Laguna Seca. The owner had just spent a small fortune on suspension, gearing, seats, harnesses etc. It has new 9x17 95 cobra replicas. The second car I bought came with 9x17 Saleen replicas. I would like to use what I have to save a little money. Although I have been eyeballing the 9.5x18 2000 Cobra R wheels from AM. But those along with tires will put me out about $1500. I can just get the tires for about $800'ish.
 
#8 ·
255's if possible
 
#10 ·
That does change the game plan a bit . . . sorry to hear it involved somebody else's misfortune.


Norm
 
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